Improvements to I-85 and Speedway Blvd.

Speedway Area Transportation Update
February, 2009

Concord and Cabarrus County continue to receive comments regarding congestion in the Speedway/Concord Mills area, particularly south of the I-85 Exit 49 interchange near the Weddington Road/Bruton Smith Boulevard intersection. As the same time, there has been confusion about negotiations with Speedway Motorsports, Inc. because some of these same improvements were part of the discussions related to the construction of the ZMAX Dragway. The following is an information update on the transportation projects impacting the access to this area.

* No funds have been allocated, distributed, spent or authorized to be paid to Speedway Motorsports Incorporated for any Speedway related projects. In fact, after the 2008 property tax revaluation in Cabarrus County, the Concord City Council lowered the Concord tax rate from 44.75 cents per $100 in valuation to 42 cents per $100 in valuation.

* I-85, Bruton Smith Boulevard and Concord Mills Boulevard are all maintained by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, so improvements to these roads must be made in conjunction with NCDOT staff and any changes must meet their specifications.

* Through the efforts of the Cabarrus/Rowan Metropolitan Planning Organization, NCDOT may receive approximately $6.4 million for the widening of the section of I-85 from Concord Mills Blvd. to exit 58 (Highway 73 interchange) as a special earmark through the new Federal Transportation Bill. Design of this project was scheduled to begin this February with construction to begin in August of 2011. It is expected to take two years to complete project.* City staff is also discussing an Intersection Spot Safety Project on Bruton Smith Blvd. at Gateway Lane, NW with NCDOT staff. Staff also continues to explore other changes at the Weddington Road intersection to seek NCDOT assistance in making improvements.

* Another area of concern due to existing congestion and for economic development purposes is the need for the extension of George Liles Parkway, at least from Weddington to Concord Parkway (US 29). This is part of the larger Westside Bypass project, which has been part of NCDOT transportation plans for decades. The phase of the NCDOT project containing this segment is not scheduled to begin construction until at least 2013.* The City of Concord has discussed up-fronting the money for this extension of George Liles Parkway to allow NCDOT to begin construction earlier. NCDOT would then reimburse the City under the original financing schedule outlined in the State Transportation Improvement Plan. A new project schedule has been discussed with NCDOT staff, but has not been finalized or approved by the Board of Transportation. The State will also make sure that the realignment of Bruton Smith Boulevard meets State specifications as it will remain a NCDOT maintained street.

* Discussions continue regarding Speedway Motorsports involvement in making improvements to Bruton Smith Boulevard due to these existing needs and other safety and congestion issues. If such a partnership develops, it will stipulate that a new funding mechanism will be needed other than existing property tax revenues.

Source: City of Concord

Concord: Cruisin' for a Bruton?

So the City of Concord has laid down with the dogs and is now itching it's fleas! Concord said NO to a dragstrip that Bruton Smith, owner of Lowes Motor Speedway in Concord, started to build across the street from LMS. Now Bruton has said he doesn't need Concord and is entertaining the idea of removing the speedway from Concord. This would cost the City of Concord millions in tax dollars and a crushed dream of becoming the epicenter of the motorsports world. But what is this all about anyway? Will Bruton really move? Is it a bluff just to get more tax incentives out of Concord? Is Bruton just a billionaire Diva with no more loyalty then Paris Hilton's dog? Will he really risk becoming the most hated man in motorsports by turning his back on the home of racing in order to flip a few (million) bucks? Is Concord sucking up to Bruton just making you squint your eyes and grit your teeth with rage? Should Concord call on the Franz Family (the Royal Family of NASCAR) for help? Is NASCAR dead? Has it become so big that it's roots have been kicked out of the track because you can't through chicken bones or 24oz cans of Budweiser anymore? Do you care? Do I care? I don't even know anymore. Let's hear it!